View full sizeJohn O'Boyle/The Star-LedgerThe Devils' David Clarkson battles the Pittsburgh Penguins' Dustin Jeffrey for the puck during the third period today at the Prudential Center in Newark.

It was a nice gesture.

After Devils right winger David Clarkson scored his 20th goal of the season into an empty net with 46.7 seconds left against the Pittsburgh Penguins today, he acknowledged goalie Martin Brodeur’s pass with a point of his finger.

“It was nice of him. I’m surprised, though,” the goalie said jokingly.

Clarkson said he thought it was the third time in his career Brodeur has assisted on one of his goals. But this was a big one.

He also said he was pleased to have reached the 20-goal plateau for the season.

Brodeur claimed he wasn’t passing to Clarkson when he lifted the puck into the air over some Penguins attackers.

“No. I’d like to say I was. But we had a lot of faceoffs in our zone in the third, so I got a little tired of that," Brodeur said. "I got a little opening and I kind of made the play. That’s the fastest Clarkie skated all game to get that puck.”

“No. I didn’t see him on pace for 30 or 35 or whatever he’s probably on pace for right now," DeBoer said, "but I felt he could be a better player than how we played last year. And I think he felt he could be a better player. He needed to go out and prove it. I provided him an opportunity to do that and, to his credit, he’s done it.”

It was Brodeur's fourth assist of the season, which puts him three points ahead of Cam Janssen in their personal scoring contest. Janssen has no goals and one assist.

* * *

Zach Parise also scored his 20th goal, but was less excited.

“It’s okay,” Parise said. “I’d like to have more. I feel like I should have more. I’ve missed a lot of really good opportunities. I guess all things considered, it’s okay. Hopefully our line keeps playing well. Kovy has been unstoppable lately.”

* * *

Center Adam Henrique returned after missing three games (and five of eight) with a groin injury.

“I felt good,” he said. “As the game went on I felt better and better.”

DeBoer said of Henrique: “He was a great addition jumping back in. We needed some fresh legs and some energy. I think just having him back gave our guys a shot of energy on a day where we were playing our fourth game in 6 ½ days.”

The Devils, who had a 6-0 lead entering the third period in Philadelphia and wound up winning, 6-4, brought a 4-1 lead into this game and gave up just one goal to the Penguins in the third period.

“Actually, it’s way easier to play when you lead, 4-1, not 6-0,” Ilya Kovalchuk said, “because it doesn’t happen very often that you have a six-goal lead against somebody. Especially in Philly. We knew they were going to be flying around trying to hit guys. At that point nobody wanted to get hurt.”

DeBoer said: “We went through some tape before the game on what happened in the third period (in Philadelphia). I think we recognized some of the mistakes we made. It’s one of those things where you learn from your mistakes and (yesterday) we handled the third period much better.”

* * *

DeBoer praised the play of Alexei Ponikarovsky and Steve Bernier, who each had an assist in the game.

Both have played extremely well for the Devils.

“I’m not really surprised. I can tell you they’ve made a huge difference,” DeBoer said. “Having Ponikarovsky and Bernier in the lineup, both are veteran guys. Both can make plays under pressure and have some composure with the puck. And both have provided us with some scoring. Those guys are creating offense. The first three months of the season that was something we really battled with, trying to find some offense underneath the top six (forwards).”